U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington who is on a visit to Sokoto
State has encouraged
young Nigerians to
become agricultural
entrepreneurs.

He was speaking to students of Sokoto State University on the need to pursue
careers in agribusiness noting that agriculture makes up 24% of Nigeria’s GDP.

Ambassador Symington said, “There are jobs to
be created and money
to be made in the
agribusiness industry. It will require technology, innovation, and financing, but it will
also need skilled operators; these students can be among the next generation of agribusiness industry
leaders.”

He went on to note that Nigeria needs a more diversified economy.

He emphasized there were many entry points along the agribusiness value chain including “owning and operating a farm, running a processing
plant, selling irrigation systems or seeds, transporting farm products, and
exporting.”

The Ambassador discussed how students can take advantage of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
“smart grants,” which
provide seed money to small entrepreneurs.

During his visit to
Sokoto, Ambassador Symington met with His Excellency Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and His Eminence Sultan
Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar.

He also met with interfaith religious leaders, visited a USAID program site, and toured the Waziri
Junaidu History and Culture Bureau.